OK, we're trying a new one here. Which documentaries, new or not so new, would you recommend to a public audience, and why?
Some rules are posted above.
Recommended Documentaries
Recommended Docs
This is a topic where you can say which documentary has really impressed you, and why people should see it. Can be a recent one or an all-time favourite. Can't be your own though, sorry...
Praise the work of others, not your own. If you want to beat the drum for your own documentary, please don't do it here. Professionals have their own Shameless Self-Promotion topic.
We also have a Documentary Films topic for our Professionals where the debate is private and possibly more controversial. This topic here is for recommendations to the documentary-interested public.
This is the beginning of the topic.
Let's try and start it this way:
Still looking speechless at the current events in Japan, what documentaries have you seen that deal with catastrophic events?
And given the world is debating nuclear power once more, which films would you recommend that deal with nuclear issues?
Or, if you want to mention something entirely different, feel free to do so any time.
Participant's COUNTDOWN TO ZERO chronicles the history of nuclear mishaps of which there are many. (disclaimer; I shot on this one)
The War Game by Peter Watkin was an amazing documentary about the effects of a nuclear strike on Britain. I saw it in high school and it scared the living sh*t out of me.
But why start off by depressing everyone? The documentary that had the greatest impact and influence on me? Sherman's March by Ross McElwee.
Wed 16 Mar 2011
Edited Wed 16 Mar 2011 by enrico rossini cullen
I really loved SWEETGRASS and I would recommend it as a "food film" for people who don't like food films. Though the logline says it's about the last cowboys of the American West, it's also about tradition, environmental politics, and, yes, food – namely, lamb. Super entertaining, too. Like the Wolverine scene. Loved it. It's also very beautiful. For sound geeks, they make amazing use of remote lavs and other sound recordings – feels more like a field recording project sometimes.
The one film that sticks with me more than any other doc I've ever seen is CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS.
Re: Nick Higgins's post on Wed 16 Mar 2011: View thread
I second COUNTDOWN TO ZERO, screen it as a double feature with INTO ETERNITY for a completely relevant and mind blowing evening.
Wed 16 Mar 2011
Edited Wed 16 Mar 2011 by John Burgan
An earlier environmental disaster in Japan: Minamata, The Victims of Their World
Another aftermath of a catastrophic event: Iraq in Fragments by James Longley. One man with a video camera: children & war
Wed 16 Mar 2011
Edited Wed 16 Mar 2011 by John Burgan
And just for inspiration: Perlov Diary by David Perlov. Filmmaker's first shot: out the window. Start with your own backyard.
